Neon wasn't replaced...

[sheetmagnet2]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

I'm a linetech for DCX working under a master viper technician... and yes it was replaced with the caliber.

It's built on the same platform. That's like saying the Charger and Magnum have nothing in common.

Only reason I'm in here is I'm looking for a cheap POS to get me to work and back while I'm saving for something not in the 17s.

If you guys have any technical questions go ahead and ask. I'll give it a shot.

Okay, if there are no significant structural improvements in the Caliber, and it weighs 600 pounds more than the Neon it replaced (much slower 1/4-mile even with the newer engines, and worse MPG in the city), has a 0.10 greater drag coefficient than the Neon (oops there goes the highway mpg too... no more 40 mpg at 80 mph!), does worse in the slalom and braking... then where are the improvements? Don't get me wrong, the extra options like the pop cooler and flip-down tailgaiting things are nice, but they are what they are: OPTIONS. All vehicles start with the same #1 function: driveability. It may be on the same platform, but if the Caliber underperforms in every category, how can DCX really call it a "replacement" if the overall result is a step backwards?

(sorry for the name-change guys, had probs with the sheetmagnet login)

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by sheetmagnet2

Okay, if there are no significant structural improvements in the Caliber, and it weighs 600 pounds more than the Neon it replaced (much slower 1/4-mile even with the newer engines, and worse MPG in the city), has a 0.10 greater drag coefficient than the Neon (oops there goes the highway mpg too... no more 40 mpg at 80 mph!), does worse in the slalom and braking... then where are the improvements? Don't get me wrong, the extra options like the pop cooler and flip-down tailgaiting things are nice, but they are what they are: OPTIONS. All vehicles start with the same #1 function: driveability. It may be on the same platform, but if the Caliber underperforms in every category, how can DCX really call it a "replacement" if the overall result is a step backwards?

(sorry for the name-change guys, had probs with the sheetmagnet login)

Who says it has to perform better to replace the last generation? Same thing happened when Ford switched from the Fox body mustang to the SN95 design(93-94 differences). Along with the Ford Escort as it has gotten newer and newer.

Today's car buyers look at interior creature-comforts and those options before anything else. The fact is: Calibers sell like hotcakes. That's the #1 concern of the manufacturer.

The Neon is possibly one of the worst cars ever made(mainly with the first few years). Those things are very unreliable and are just built poorly. It's about time it is done away with.

[sheetmagnet2]

Well I can agree with all of that... the 1st-gen Neons were built poorly. Even the 2nd-gen Neons, had a few quirks. It seems they didn't knock most of the bugs out until '02 or '03. It kinda saddened me that they got rid of the coupe, but I liked the fact that Dodge improved the car overall... and as soon as they did, they gave it the axe.

I understand the trend, I just don't agree with it. I am not saying that all sport-compacts should be land-rockets or sports cars straight out of the box, but the Caliber just doesn't seem as "fun" of a car to drive as the Neon is, for many reasons which I already listed. Just my opinion.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

The Neon is possibly one of the worst cars ever made(mainly with the first few years). Those things are very unreliable and are just built poorly.

My 99 hasn't given me any major concerns and is very well built. Biggest problem for me is a dead battery which has nothing to do with the car. I do my preventive maintenance such as plugs, wires, PCV Valve, oil changes and what not. No complaints from me! I won't buy the Caliber, especially since it offers no more room than the "crappy" first gen neon!

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by das2123

My 99 hasn't given me any major concerns and is very well built. Biggest problem for me is a dead battery which has nothing to do with the car. I do my preventive maintenance such as plugs, wires, PCV Valve, oil changes and what not. No complaints from me! I won't buy the Caliber, especially since it offers no more room than the "crappy" first gen neon!

Consider yourself lucky since there are 61 TSBs on the '99 Neon

The Neon probably got a bad rap because there are 231 TSBs on the '95

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../95neontsb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../99neontsb.jpg

That's a lot of technical service bulletins.

[sheetmagnet2]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

Consider yourself lucky since there are 61 TSBs on the '99 Neon ... The Neon probably got a bad rap because there are 231 TSBs on the '95 ...That's a lot of technical service bulletins.

It'd be nice if DCX shared TSB's with their consumers the same way other companies do...

[das2123]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

Consider yourself lucky since there are 61 TSBs on the '99 Neon

I know hundreds of others who have had the same experience with me. I think owners have alot to do with the quality of a vehicle. I'm not saying they have anything to do with the TSB's, but preventive maintenance goes a long way.

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by das2123

I know hundreds of others who have had the same experience with me. I think owners have alot to do with the quality of a vehicle. I'm not saying they have anything to do with the TSB's, but preventive maintenance goes a long way.

Yeah I totally agree with you on that. In my experience, people with first gen neons always come in with crap all over all the seats and trash throughout the car, things falling apart, and get this: the brakes always squeel... yet that is NEVER the customer complaint! They wait until the check engine light is on and it dies going down the road to bring it in
This is less common as you progress to the newer and newer neons, but neon and caravan are always the cars with owners that neglect them. Same with the early "cloud" cars(Breeze, Stratus, Cirrus and Intrepid).

[connermt]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

I'm a linetech for DCX working under a master viper technician... and yes it was replaced with the caliber.

It's built on the same platform. That's like saying the Charger and Magnum have nothing in common.

Only reason I'm in here is I'm looking for a cheap POS to get me to work and back while I'm saving for something not in the 17s.

If you guys have any technical questions go ahead and ask. I'll give it a shot.

Newbie here
For a tech question: I know there are a lot of issues with the SRT4s TPS. I called a few weeks back to check on any recall -type info for my car (which there was none - WOO HOO).
But my cousin in FLorida was told by a Dodge place there there was a TSB on the SRT4 TPS.
Does anyone know if this is true?
Addittionally, does any one know where I can get a TPS assembly diagram?